Talking and feeling verbs in Japanese

Level A1

Talking and feeling verbs in Japanese

These examples show how to talk about conversation, feelings, and expressive actions in Japanese. English often puts the person or thing directly after a verb, but Japanese uses particles such as に for the person you speak or answer to, and が for what you love or what feels cold. Japanese verbs do not change for the subject. The polite endings ます and です suit more polite situations, while plain forms are casual.

Words for talking and feeling

  • 話(はな)すtalk
  • 答(こた)えるanswer
  • 大好(だいす)きだlove
  • 感(かん)じるfeel
  • 笑(わら)うlaugh
  • 泣(な)くcry
  • にこにこするsmile
  • 歌(うた)うsing

Talking to someone and answering

The person spoken or answered to takes に: “姉に話します” and “先生に答える.” The subject can be left out when context makes it clear, which is why “姉に話します” can mean “I talk to my sister.” 話します is polite; 話す and 答える are plain forms, commonly used in casual speech.

話す人は相手に話(はな)す／話します。

Talking about a topic

Use のこと to mark what you are talking about: “家族のことを話す.” The plain form 話す is casual here; Japanese does not change the verb for “we” or another subject.

話す人は話題のことを話(はな)す。

Answering a question or a person

答える uses に for the question or person being answered: “質問に答えます” and “先生に答える.” The first uses a polite verb ending; the second uses the plain form.

答える人は質問・相手に答(こた)える／答えます。

Saying that you love someone or something

大好き expresses strong liking or love. Mark what you like with が, as in “音楽が大好きですか？” In the casual “この歌、大好き？” the subject and particle are omitted, which is natural when the context is clear.

好きな人・物（が）大好き（ですか）？

Describing a physical sensation or condition

For the sensation of cold hands, Japanese marks the body part with が: “手が冷たく感じます.” 感じます is the polite form of 感じる. Japanese verbs do not change to agree with the person who feels the sensation.

体の部分が感覚を表す形感(かん)じる／感じます。

Describing how you feel in general

For a general condition, Japanese can say いい感じ (“feels good”) instead of translating English “feel” word for word. The polite example is 「今日はいい感じです。」 (“I feel good today”); the casual example is 「すごくいい感じ！」 (“I feel great!”). The polite ending です makes the first example more suitable for a polite situation, while the second is casual.

Laughing, crying, smiling, and singing

The polite examples use endings such as ます: “赤ちゃんが笑います” and “子どもは夜に泣きます.” Plain forms such as “一緒に笑う” and “兄と歌う” are casual. The verbs do not change according to who laughs, cries, or sings.

人は／が笑(わら)う／笑います／泣く／泣きます／歌う／歌います。

Asking why someone is smiling

The two questions show different levels of politeness: “どうしてにこにこしているんですか？” is polite, while “なんでそんなににこにこしてるの？” is casual. The casual question shortens している to してる; どうして and なんで both ask why.

理由を尋ねる言葉 にこにこしているんですか／にこにこしてるの？

Plain and polite verb forms

PlainPolite
plainpolite
感(かん)じる感じます
歌(うた)う歌います

A conversation about music

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